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\ Heilman Dale, 

Leban 

ADDRESSES 

DELIVERED AT THE 

FIRST STATED MEETING 

OF THE 

Lebanon County Historical Society 

L - 

HEED IN THE 

COURT HOUSE, LEBANON, F»A., 

Friday, February 18, 1898. 



The County Historical Society, 

By Rev. F. J. F. Schantz, D. 1>., 
Myerstown, Pa. 



The Hebron Diary during the Revolutionary Period, 

By J. "H. Redsecker, Ph.M. 



PRESS OF 

REPORT PUBLISHING COMPANY, LIMITED, 

LEBANON, PA. 




r I 5~7 



5 762 



l-\oi°l% *&«*< 



THE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

By Rev. F. J. F. Schantz, D.D. 



Mr. President and Members of the Leba- 
non County Historical Society: 
Friday, January 14th, 1898, will be long 
remembered by the gentlemen who assem- 
bled on the afternoon of that day in the 
Court House of Lebanon county. No bell 
had rung. No judges occupied the bench. 
No attorneys assembled within the bar. 
No jurymen were present to be called, to 
be challenged or accepted. No plaintiffs 
and defendants appeared with anxious 
faces. No witnesses feared the trying or- 
deal of an examination and cross-examina- 
tions. No one had come to exercise the 
right of the American citizen to sit in 
judgment on the court. On that after- 
noon no case was tried and thus no tes- 
timony was heard — there were no rulings 
by the court — no pleas by attorneys — no 
charge to the jury — no verdict rendered— 
no lines imposed — no committals to jail or 
penitentiaries — no sentence to die on the 
gallows — no mileage and pay for jurymen 
and witnesses — no fees for attorneys, and. 
above all, no costs for the county. 

The meeting of that afternoon differed 
from all the meetings held in the Court 
House from the time of its erection, many 
years ago. Besides sessions of the court 
in these many years, other meetings were 
held in the past within these walls. The 
various political parties have often met 
here — to show the duty of the citizen in 
municipal, county, state and national af- 
fair's. Prominent candidates for state and 
national offices, men distinguished for 
their services in the commonwealth, ami 
in the republic, — men, who by their ser 
vices in the time of war, won the admira- 
tion of all good citizens, — were heard here 
in past years. For many years, the great 
county institutes in the interest of educa- 
tion have been held here. Within these 
walls, great lectures, delivered by great 
men, have been heard; and musicians of 
highest rank have often delighted large au- 
diences. Possibly some of the gentlemen 
present today, may remember that at a 
great Union meeting, held here in the time 
of the late war, the most impressive ad- 
dress was delivered by a Pennsylvania 



German parson, who was applauded as no 
man had been applauded before. 

The meeting on January 14th will ever 
be remembered as the meeting at which 
the organization of the Lebanon County 
Historical Society was effected. The com- 
mittee appointed at the temporary orga- 
nization presented a well-prepared consti- 
tution, which was unanimously adopted. 
The committee on organization reported the 
names of gentlemen, whose ancestors re- 
sided in Lebanon county for many years, 
to fill the various offices., and all were 
unanimously elected and entered at once 
upon their respective offices. An executive 
committee was appointed. Many mem- 
bers paid the membership fee and first an- 
nual fee. The gentlemen who took part 
in the organization of the society were de- 
lighted with the attendance, with the har- 
monious proceedings, and the deep interest 
shown in the organization of the society. 

Since the meeting on Friday, January 
14th, the executive committee has held sev- 
eral meetings, at one of which it arranged 
the order for the meeting on this day. My 
appearance before you today reminds me 
of an experience as a member of the board 
of trustees of a college. Many years ago, I 
offered, at a meeting of the board, a reso- 
lution recommending that in future the 
scholastic year of the institution be opened 
with an address before the faculty, the stu- 
dents and friends of the institution. The 
resolution was adopted, and when the time 
for the appointment of a speaker had 
come, I received the invitation to deliver 
the first address. I felt a deep interest in 
the formation of this society, and you saw 
tit to elect me a member of the executive 
committee. I favored the appointment of 
speakers for this first regular bi-monthly 
meeting of the society. The executive 
committee kindly spared other gentlemen, 
who are to be given ample time for the 
preparation of extended papers, — and kind- 
ly requested me to deliver an address at 
this meeting. 

Gentlemen, I regard this day as one of 
the happiest days of my residence of more 
than thirty years in the beautiful Lebanon 



/./■/! ANON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



Valley— not Bimply in view of the honor 
bestowed upon me to deliver as address; 
but in view of the great privilege of being 
able to address you as the Lebanon Coun- 
ty Historical Society, a privilege which no 
one has heretofore enjoyed. 

Lebanon county, as is well known, was 
constituted within this century: Dauphin 
county long included the; district n<>\\ em- 
braced in Lebanon county. Lancastei 
county formerly included Dauphin and 
Lebanon counties. Lancaster county and 
Dauphin county differed from Lebanon 
county for many years in an importanl 
matter. Lancaster and Dauphin have for 
many years their respective count3 his- 
torical societies. We have reason to re- 
joice that Lebanon lias now become like 

Lancaster and Dauphin counties. 

What more suitable subject could have 
been assigned to me tor this first bi-month- 
ly meeting of our society than the one 
announced as the subject of mj address: 

THE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

No one can complain that al the close of 
the nineteenth century, there is a dearth 
of societies. For a long time, the three in- 
stitutions of divine appointment -the fam- 
ily, I he -talc, and I he church, ]i;i\ e mc! 
the wants of men. We live in an age in 
which it would be difficult to name all the 
societies and associations in which people 

have membership. 
We have at this day, the gentlemen's 

Club and the womoifs club, the boys' club 

and the girls' elub; we might ask, \\ hail is 

wrong with the ties of homo, the loving 

iol.il it husband and wife, of parents 

and children, that make these necessary? 
In educational work, we find the rural 

district School With its societies as well as 

the great university with its many associa 
turns. No educational institution seems to 
be able to secure patronage of a sufficient 
quantity, if its catalogue does not announce 
the fad that its students will be able to 
have their wishes gratified bj the advan- 
tages afforded by a multitude of associa 
t ions. 
In the church itself, we have today such 
i number ol societies, that the fear 
has been expressed that the time may come 
when men will ask, Of whal furl her Use is 

ill.' i lnireli wnh its ,h\ in. appoinl menl , to 

meet t he highest v. ;inl s .if men ? 

In matters of the state, we have a great 

number of associations, each one claiming 

t hai it is absolute!] needed to secure the 

civil interests of OUT vast population. 

In business, we meet with main asso- 
ciations. Think of the many unions that 



have been formed by capitalists to secure 
and advance the money interests of the 
rich, and think of the many brotherhoods 
to secure the rights of the laboring man. 
These combinations show how much men 
prize the associations of those who have 
similar interests. Thus we have also men 
associated in agricultural and horticultural 
societies, in millers, in miners and manu- 
facturers associations. We meet with med- 
ical societies, pharmaceutical associations, 
dental unions, editorial associations, print- 
ers combinations, ministers union, and un- 
dertakers union. Who can name all the 
associations we have today for mutual aid 
in the time of sickness, and relict when 
death visits the home? Who has forgotten 
the bright promises that were made by 
agents ol ( insurance I companies of various 
name-, and the sad and painful disappoint- 
ments of many who have not been profited 
by such association with others? 

Whilst all of these societies or associa- 
tions have to do with the present and fu- 
ture interests of men, the historical society 
di tiers from all of these by having to do 
principally with the past, of men. 

Historical societies are not new in 
America. New England is proud of its 
Puritan Society. New York and New Jer- 
sey lake pride in the Holland Society. The 
Hibernian Societj preserves the history of 
those who came from the Emerald Isle. 
The Scotch-Irish Society preserves the 
memory of illustrious ancestors. The Ger- 
man Society of New York and the German 
Society of Philadelphia have already cel- 
ebrated their centennials. The Pennsylva- 
nia Historical Society has rendered most 
important service in preserving the his- 
torj of Pennsylvania and the Union. The 
Pennsylvania German Society, organized 
only seven years ago, has awakened among 
Pennsylvania Germans a wonderful inter- 
est in the history of their ancestors. New 
England has learned more of Pennsylvania 
Germans in these seven years than ever 
before, and it is to be commended for ac- 
knowledging its former ignorance of a peo- 
ple who had also a prominent pari in 
making the United Stales what they are. 
Not long ago, students of an eastern col- 
lege were requested to prepare papers in 
which the young men were to give what 

t hex knew of their homes and the people 
of their respective homes. One young 
man made good use of Benjamin Trex 
ler's "Sketches of the Lehigh Valley." 

The professor before whom the young stu- 
dent read his paper, was astonished, and 
promptly asked the young man where he 



LEBANON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



had secured the matter given in his paper. 
The student acknowledged his use of the 
contents of the "Sketches of the Lehigh 
Valley," a German volume, which contains 
much valuable historical information con- 
cerning the Pennsylvania Germans and 
other white settlers. What will New Eng- 
land professors say when they once have 
read all the annuals of the Pennsylvania 
German Society ? 

On Friday, February 4th, whilst on my 
way to Macungie, to go thence to Upper 
Milford township in my native county (Le- 
high), to deliver a lecture in the Penn'a 
German dialect, I had the pleasure of meet 
ing Rev. Dr. Thomas C. Porter, of Lafa- 
yette College, who informed me that on the 
previous evening (February 3d) he had the 
pleasure of witnessing at a private resi- 
dence in Chambersburg, the organization 
of the Kittatinny Scotch-Irish Eistorical 
Society, by about 20 gentlemen who had 
assembled for the purpose. This shows 
that others also are appreciating the im- 
portance of district historical societies. 
And I have no doubt that in the future the 
Historical Society of Lebanon County will 
take pleasure in greeting the Kittatinny 
Scotch-Irish Society and bid it God-speed 
in a good work. 

Our glorious republic is a grand union of 
states. It consists of many parts. We 
speak of commonwealths, of counties, of 
townships, and of districts. The character 
of the union is determined by the charac- 
ter of the divisions and sub-divisions. 
Hence the propriety of the organization of 
other than national and state, yea, even of 
county societies, to preserve the history 
of the minor parts of the great republic. 

And what is the great purpose of the so- 
ciety recently organized by us? It is to 
preserve the history of Lebanon county, a 
part of the great commonwealth of Penn- 
sylvania — the Keystone state of the great 
republic. The territory covered by this 
county is not large compared with that of 
Perks and Lancaster or even Schuylkill 
county. Let us not forget that as some of 
the smaller states of the great republic 
have a more interesting and important his- 
tory than some of vast domain, so some of 
the smaller counties of the commonwealth 
have a history of w r hich counties of much 
larger extent of territor-y might be proud. 

And what mil be the work of the Leba- 
non County Historical Society? 

1. We trust that some one will soon be 
charged with the preparation of a paper, 
in which there will be an interesting de- 
scription of the territory covered by this 



county, to show what it was before white 
men settled here. It. had then the same 
parts of mother earth as at present, with 
mountains and valleys, with extensive for- 
ests and vast uncultivated plains, its many 
streams t>f water, the beast of the forest, 
the winged fowl, and the abundance of fish 
in the streams. It was then the region in 
which the Indian loved to roam, and also 
to abide for seasons of varied length. 

2. We doubt not that we will also be 
favored with a paper on the settlements of 
white people. The earliest settlements 
were made near the beginning of the last 
century. We will hear of the immigrants 
who came from Schoharie in New York, 
by the way of the north branch of the 
Susquehanna, and the Susquehanna to the 
mouth of the Swatara, thence along the 
Swatara, and eastward into the Tulpe- 
hocken region. We will also hear of the 
many who came subsequently by the way 
of the port in Philadelphia. 

3. Then, again, we will learn from an- 
other, of the first habitations of the early 
settlers, — their erection of humble houses 
and plain barns, of the preparation of the 
soil and the first sowing of seed in the 
hope of a future harvest, — and the erection 
of the first mills will not be forgotten. 

4. Still another will tell us of the erec- 
tion of school-houses and churches, and 
the organization of Christian congregations 
by those who could not forget the lilcss- 
ings of the church and school in the Fath- 
erland. 

5. We will further learn of the opening 
of public roads by the government, and 
the opening of private roads by the set- 
tlers,— to be followed in turn by the turn- 
pike, the canal and the railroad. 

6. Some one will tell us of the early ar- 
tisan, and the results of his labors. The 
services rendered by the tailor, the shoe- 
maker, the carpenter, the tinker, the 
blacksmith, the clockmaker, the wagon- 
maker, the millwright, and also by the 
gunsmith, will be fully presented. 

7. An important paper will present the 
civil affairs in the days of the colony, and 
subsequently in the time of the com- 
monwealth. 

8. Some one will tell us of the discovery 
and subsequent mining of iron ore, — the 
erection of the first furnaces and the won- 
derful development of the iron interests. 
We shall also hear of prospecting for gold 
and silver in various parts of the county. 

9. In due time we will have extended 
papers on the school house and school of 
the fathers, the adoption of the common 



L Eli AXON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



school system, the establishment of acad- 
emics, the opening ol high schools and eol 
leges, and the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, 
within the limits of bhe county. 

10. Many papers will be requit-ed to 
present properly the historj atch Chris- 

iongregation, with an account of its 

buildings, its records, its pastors and i 

pie. 

11. Many papers will be required t" 
present the history of the services rend- 
ered by the early and later inhabitants of 
the county in the French and Indian 
War, in the years of the greal Revolution, 
m the War ..i L812-15, m the war with 
Mexico, and in 1 he late Civil War. 

12. Valuable contributions will he made 
to the societ.N bj the preparation and pre- 
sentation of the history of each town and 
village. 

13. Will not the formation of Lebanon 
County, whose inhabitants had for many 
years to go to Harrisburg and still earlier 

for a long tune to Lancaster to se 

justice as well as to he tried for offences, 
he an mt en -I ing art icle'.' 

14. 'Idie history of families cannot fail 
to prove oi interest to many who know 
now hut little of their ancestors. 

15. We I rust that some will he charged 
with the preparation of a paper on Music 
in Lebanon County, lie will not forget to 
tell us of t he cantor of t he oi I eon 
tions. the singing-school of former days, 
the use of the violin and otner instruments 
at, church ser\ ices, before pipe-organs and 
later ned organs were used. What a dif- 
ference between the renderings of the 
primitive choir and the choral societj of 
the present daj . 

In". Some of us will lie surprised in 
lea in of t he » Iherrj Fairs held in t he 
county many years ago, which occasioned 
severe reproof from Faithful ministers at 
the next church service; of the drill days 
and great battalions, when the State mili- 
tia and volunteer companies were not the 
only attraction, when hucksters erected 
their hoot lis along the public road, and 
had g] eat Sail -. when landlords had am 

pie preparations for those who were hun 

-i j .ind t hirstj . w hen t he tidier was busj 
from una inn- till late at night in serving 
those who wished to dance, ami when men 

\\ ho had mis to set tie with others en- 

gaged m bloody contests. We ma\ also 

in due time learn of the old kind of politi- 
cal meetings held in various parts of the 
county, and learn how nan in former days 
obsei ved t be Fourth of duly. 
17. Tn due time we may also have bio- 



graphical sketches of ministers, from the 
days of John Caspar Stqever, Conrad Tem- 
pleman and the tirst ministers of the Mo 
ravian and other churches, down to the 
present day; of teachers in charge of the 

old I H-ineinde Schule and of those who 
subsequent^ had charge oi the schools 
that, were successively established; of phy- 
sicians distinguished for their ability and 
success in ministering to the wants of suf- 
fering fellow men; of judges and other legal 
gentlemen of high rank and eminent ser- 
vices in the court of justice; of men who 
faithfully served their generation in the 
State and National government; of men 
who served their country faithfully in the 
time of war: of men and women, known 
for industry and honesty and fair dealing, 
in the different vocations of life; of men 
who by the establishment of great indus- 
tries became benefactors to many who 
found an opportunity to earn their daily 
bread, and of men and women too, noti I 
lor t heir works of mercy. 

IS. An interest in- paper would lie one 
on the languages spoken by the early set- 
blers. The English landlord no doubl 
found it difficult to converse with the Ger 
man who spoke high German and the im- 
migrant who continued to use the di 
of the province from which he came. No 
doubt tlu' Scotch Irish ami the German 
and Swiss settlers had their difficulties m 
conversing with each other. The intro- 
duction of schools in which English was 
and is still taught has been the means of 
bringing the citizens of the county to a 
closer union. Much remains, however, to 
he done on this line. 

L9. leal the work of the Count \ Histori- 
cal Societj will not end with securing the 
preparation and presentation of histo 
papers on topics such as have been indi- 
cated and such as may he thought of by 
others. 

An opportunity will he given from time 
to time for the display and we trust also 
for presentation to the Society of old pa- 
pers, such as patents, warrants and deeds, 
of an earlier day, passport- of ancestors, 
contracts with redemptioners, old hooks 
lirought from the Fatherland, old furni- 
ture, old (diesis, old chairs and benches, 
old bedsteads, old tallies, ten plate stoves, 
old queenSTvare, old knives, forks and 
. old clocks, t he old spinning wheel, 

the Hint punk and steid, a sun glass, tin- 
old lard lamps, implements used on the 
farm, fools used in the workshop, old lire 
arms and swords; also Indian relics of va- 
rious kinds, garments worn by ancestors, 



LEBANON COUNTY HIS10RICAL SOCIETY. 



when there were no fashion-plates. What 
an interesting presentation would the old 
clerical robe, worn in Bindnagle's church, 
but not within the memory of a living 
man, be. To these might be added all the 
books and pamphlets published in this 
county. Files of newspapers would also be 
very acceptable and profitable. Another 
valuable addition would be the list of pat- 
ents secured by inventors residing in Leb- 
anon County, and if possible specimens of 
tlic articles patented. 

But why should I continue to speak 
longer of the future work of the County 
Historical Society? We ought to enter 
upon the work with proper zeal. The work 
cannot be completed in a year or many 
years — it is a work that is to be continued 
by future generations. Every opportunity 
should, however, be embraced to secure 
valuable information and interesting con- 
tributions from those who link us with 
past generations. If we procrastinate, we 
may wait until those who can now render 
valuable services will have departed this 
life and then we will have occasion to re- 
gret our unfortunate delays. 

The present members of the Society and 
all who may shortly become members of 
the same — and we trust that many ladies 
as well as gentlemen will become members 
of the organization — will have to do with 
the history of past generations, and what 
will be the profit of such work? We trust 
that all will be led to thank God for the 
blessings which we now enjoy and that 
all of us may be impressed by the thought 
that what we now enjoy, by the favor of 
God, is the result of the heroic labors of a 
noble ancestry, of whom no one has rea- 
son to be ashamed. 

I shall never forget my visit, in the 
spring of 1866, to the old Trappe church 
in Montgomery County, erected in 1743. 
Snow still covered the ground. I first vis- 
ited the grave of the patriarch Muhlen- 
berg and wiped the snow from his tomb- 
stone; there lie also the remains of other 
members of his family, and also those of 
Francis R. Shunk, a former Governor <>t 
Pennsylvania. After leaving the burial 
ground I later entered the church twice. 
I was alone the second time and 
yet I did not regret that I was alone 
in the old church building. I looked at the 
walls of the building, the quaint doors 
and windows in the same, I looked at the 
high pulpit, and plain altar, at the plain 
seats on floor and in galleries. I noticed 



the organ in the organ loft, with some of 
the pipes Avanting. Whilst I looked at 
what was to be seen in the old sanctuary 
I thought of the services conducted in that 
building, by Muhlenberg, Brunnholtz, and 
their successors. I thought of people wor- 
shipping in that house of God, in a former 
century. I thought of the meetings of 
Synod held there at a very early day. I 
thought of the blessings extended to an- 
cestors, including some of my own rela- 
tives I thought of the labors, services and 
influence that belonged to the history of 
that old church, and I could not refrain 
from kneeling before that ancient altar 
and to thank God for His favors to noble 
fathers, for their work and blessed in- 
fluences upon others, and to pray that 
God's blessing might rest upon all of the 
day on which I prayed and on future gen- 
erations. You may wonder how I hap- 
pened to be at the Trappe at that time, 
on such unpleasant days. I was at that 
time an agent of a Theological Seminary 
of the Lutheran Church, which regards 
Muhlenberg as its patriarch. 

Let no honest man tell me that he can 
examine the records and results of the la- 
bors of godly men of former days, who 
had so much to do with the making of 
Pennsylvania, and yet remain unmoved 
and receive no inspiration for a better life 
and more faithful service. 

Before closing, I would ask you to think 
of the Lebanon County Historical Society 
celebrating its semi-centennial in the year 
1&J8, and still later the centennial. Will 
not our lives, our labors, our good deeds 
or evil deeds, be then a part of the his- 
tory of Lebanon county. Let every mem- 
ber of the Society consider it the heighth 
of his ambition, duty and privilege so to 
live and act by the help of the grace of 
<o>d, that his descendants will have no 
cause to blush when his history shall be 
written or read by them. 

Hoav important for all of us to remem- 
ber the exhortation of the great apostle: 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things 
are true, whatsoever things are honest, 
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever 
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of 
good report, if there be any virtue and if 
there be any praise, think on these things. 

"Those things, which ye both learned, 
and received, and heard and seen in me, 
do: and the God of peace shall be with 
you." 



THE HEBRON DIARY DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY 

PERIOD. 



Hv 



. J. II. Redseckek, Ph.m. 



About 12 or 15 years before George Suit/ 
laid out the town of Lebanon, the Mora- 
vian brethren, moving westward from Naz- 
areth and Bethlehem, had settled in He- 
bron, a mile east of what subsequently be- 
came the town of Lebanon. Here they 
had organized a church, and about the year 
1750 erected a substantial stone house of 
worship, which is still standing, but alas! 
is now used as a stable. 'The ministers of 
the church as was, and stdl is, their cus- 
tom, kept a complete diary of daily events, 
particularly those relating to their church. 
This diary is now in the possession of the 
Moravian congregation in Lebanon, ami a 
transcript oi it during the Revolutionarj 
period being in my possession, 1 have the 
pleasure of presenting some data gathered 
from it, which I hope will be of interest 
to the members of our Historical Society. 
It is a matter of regret that 1 am unable, 
in a paper of such length as this must nec- 
essarily be, to give you a complete Iran 
script of the diary, as it is replete with 
interesting data dining the memorable 
struggle of the Colonies in the War oi 
Independence. It gives us not only an in 

sight into the loyalty a, id patriotism of the 
people of our town and county, bui of their 
Imprs and fears, their struggles and tri- 
umphs, and brief pen pid m es of t hose w h i 
played t heir pari in the great drama then 
enacted. We have also a view of the op 
timisni and pessimism of the pastor, to 
whom we are indebted for this interesting 
hit ..I history. 

We must remember that al I lie I one our 
record begins, Lebanon was a town not 

e i hm probablj 15 years old, w ith nol 

over 200 bouses, ami extending eastward 

hardlj as tar as Seventh street, and a pop 

nlation scarcelj one I bousand, 

\h bough In ing hm miles inland from Phil 

adelphia, with no means of communication 

ether than the occasional meSSengei 01 

traveler. the citizens were not unmindful 

I'M nts which were transpiring in the 

Colonies and which ultimately led up to 
the War "f the Revolution. As earlj as 
fune 25, 1771, a meeting of the inhabitants 



of Lebanon and the adjoining townships 
was held at the house of Captain Oireena- 
walt, in Lebanon, "to take into serious 
consideration the state of public affairs." 
Major John Philip Did bias, afterward a 
General, presided, and John Light acted 
as secretary. It was resolved: 

1st. That the late act of the British Par- 
liament, by which the port of Boston is 
shut up, is an act oppressive to the people 
of that city, and subversive of the rights 
of the inhabitants of America. 

2d. That while we profess to be loyal 
subjects of Great Britain, we shall not 
submit to unjust and iniquitous laws, as 
u e are not slaves, but freemen. 

.".d. That we are in favor of a Congress 
of Deputies, who will act in behalf oi the 
people lor obtaining a redress of their 
grievances. 

Ith. That we will act with the inhabit- 
ants of other portions of our country in 
such measures as will preserve to us our 
rights and our liberties. 

5th. Thai our countrymen of the city of 
Boston bave our sinceresi sympathy, that 
their cause is the common cause of Amer- 
ica. 

(ith. That Messrs. Philip < I reena w alt , 
Thomas Clark, Michael Ley, Lillian Lone, 
and Curtis Grubb be a committee to collect 
contributions lor our suffering brethren. 

It will thus be seen that at the time our 
diary opens, the people were watching and 
preparing for the expected event. 

Living, as we do. ill the closing years of 
the nineteenth century, when wo have gir- 
dled the earth with electric wires, and 
speak face to lace, as it were, though hun- 
dreds of miles distant, with ocean grey- 
hounds and fast-moving railroad trains, 
and when we expect the world's .lows of 

todaj laid before us in tomorrow's papers, 

• when, I saw we have all these invent ions 
■ ■I modern civilization all'ording means of 
intercommunication between the peoples of 
the earth, it is still a matter of astonish 
incut to learn how quickly the news was 
transmitted one hundred ami twenty-live 
years ago, without all these modern means. 



LEBANON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



The smoke of the battle of Lexington and 
Concord had scarcely cleared away, before 
its echoes were heard throughout the Colo- 
nies. It was not long in reaching the little 
town of Lebanon, one hundred miles inland 
from Philadelphia. Twenty-one days after 
this initial battle of the war, we find the 
news had not only reached Lebanon, but 
that two companies had been organized 
and were ready to march. Let us quote 
from the diary in proof of this: "Wednes- 
day, May 10th, 1775. Great alarm in town. 
All men from 15 to 50 years, are expected 
to register themselves. Two companies are 
ready. The brethren ask for advice, and 
that is hard to give." They were worthy 
sires of as worthy sons, who in 1861 as 
promptly responded to the call of their 
country. 

Four days later, Sunday, May 14, we find 
this entry: "From Wednesday of last week 
up to the end of the week, our whole 
neighborhood has presented a warlike ap- 
pearance; especially was there great ex- 
citement in town, so that there is no other 
course left for our brethren, they were 
obliged to register themselves. However, 
they all went to DeHaas, who has no com- 
mission, but has by himself organized a 
company. Thus finally they obtain quiet." 

When we remember the meeting of -Tune 
25, 1774, it is not so much a matter of 
surprise to find the people of Lebanon with 
two organized companies ready to march, 
three weeks after the first engagement of 
the war. John Philip DeHaas was not a 
novice in soldiering. He had seen service 
in (he numerous campaigns against the In- 
dians, and had commanded a company in 
>ne of the frontier forts along the Blue 
Mountains. He had attained the rank of 
Major and was with Colonel Boquet in 
his campaign against the Indians in 1764, 
when he compelled them to sue for peace, 
and which resulted in the delivering up of 
many captives taken during their numer- 
ous raids upon the settlements. 

But to return to the diary. Little else 
is recorded for 1775, except that "through 
the continual favor of our worthy magis 
trates we have remained, not only undis- 
turbed as it appeared would not be the 
case, in these hazardous and unsettled 
times; but many times in the open malice 
of our enemies, they granted us their gra- 
cious protection, so that our quiet haven 
has been guarded for us." The year 1776 
was one of unusual mental agitation for 
the peaceful and peace-loving pastor of the 
Hebron congregation. Though not dis- 
loyal, for he records with evident satisfac- 



tion the victories of the Continental arms, 
he was perhaps not as enthusiastically pa- 
triotic as we may think he should have 
been. This may have been due to the 
fact that he was probably a non-combat- 
ant. However, he records with some de- 
gree of satisfaction, that on Sunday, March 
3d, "Mr. DeHaas came before preaching 
service and bade Brother Bader an affec- 
tionate farewell. In pursuance of his call, 
he will leave next Wednesday for Philadel- 
phia, and from there, as Colonel of the 
First Battalion, he will travel to Quebec." 
On the following Thursday, March 7th, we 
are informed, "early this morning Mr. De- 
Haas, with a strong escort, passed here on 
his journey. He gave another look at the 
house, saw Brother and Sister Bailer, and 
once more they sent each other a cordial 
greeting." 

In the meantime, the war spirit stirred 
the hearts of the people, and soldiers gath- 
ered in and about Lebanon, and continued 
drilling, preparatory to going to the front. 
Friday, June 25th, Dr. Oldenbrug, who af- 
terwards figures quite extensively as Cap- 
tain Oldenbrug in connection with the 
Hessian prisoners, "came and asked for 
several benches for the officers, in order 
that they could sit in Brother Baltho 
Orth's spring house, lie was allowed to 
take four from the school room. A whole 
battalion will come together tomorrow 
across the water in Brother Baltho's field 
(just opposite the Gemein-haus) and drill.*' 

On Sunday, July 7th, we are told "there 
is again great alarm in town concerning 
the war," and the next day it is recorded 
that "Brother Sturges came in great per- 
plexity with the news that every one must 
leave at once, according to (he command 
of Congress, through an express messen- 
ger." And here we get an idea of how the 
news was communicated. By couriers, af- 
ter the manner of Paul Revere. 

The battalion's drilling on Sunday, so 
near the church, evidently disturbed the 
worship of the Hebron congregation, for 
we find this entry on Sunday, duly 14, 
"The battalion received positive orders not 
to march out until after the public divine 
worship of the brethren, who were not to 
be disturbed, was ended." 

That troops were being sent to the front 
from other places, or were ordered to ren- 
dezvous in Lebanon, is quite evident from 
an entry in the diary of Sunday, duly 21, 
which says, "Again a battalion marched 
by." In the evening, two soldiers came 
■<nd asked for something to eat. When 
they learned it was a meeting house, they 



LEBANON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



started. bu1 "Sister Bader made up some- 
thing for them, and they .were friendly 
and thankful." Toward the end of this 
month, a number of companies were gath- 
ered in Lebanon, for on the 28th, he Bays, 
"towards evening again a company bdlong 
ing to another battalion marched upon the 
field, being opposite us," and a few days 
later, "two companies from the Swatara 
marched here.'" 

The time came when the men, who had 
been drilling in "Brother Baltho Orth's 
field," were to leave for the seat of war. 
Among them, were members of the Mora- 
vian eongreKafi.ii). We have numerous 
records of calls by the brethren to bid 
their pastor an affectionate farewell, for 
who could know whether they should ever 
return. 

With the stalwart men at the front, and 
the Indians and Tories in the rear, there 
is reason for the record on August 4, when 
Pastor Bader says, "Greai alarm and un- 
easiness because of the Tories and Indians, 
who are threatening an invasion upon the 
land from the mountains. "' The alarm, 
however, proved to be groundless, for a 
few days later all the soldiers left. He 
says, under date of August 8th, "toward 
evening the companies, which are (as it is 
believed) the last from this place, also 
marched by." 

On Thursday, August 15th, we come 
upon a record which, though not entered 
in a spirit of complaint, has nevertheless a 
pathos, which even at this distance of 
time, is affecting, "The song service is held 
in the house, because so many of the 
brel hren arc in t he army." 

The troops marched by way of Reading, 
Bethlehem and Easton to New York, for 
on the 28th of August, eighteen days after 
leaving home, the ^ood pastor received a 
letter i how long if was on the way we can- 
not tell) from Brother Sturges to read to 
his wife, in which he conveyed the intelli- 
gence that "he and Brother Guenther re- 
ceived the favor of being permitted to go 
to the Lord's Supper in Bethlehem, and 
thai his battalion conducted itself there 
in a creditable manner." 

The stein realities of war were now felt 
in our Lebanon community, for battles 
were being fought and many of her sons 
were at the front. With what anxiety 
news must have been awaited, and every 
arriving stranger closely questioned. No 
wonder, then, that Ave are told by the 
faithful •hronicler, on Sunday, September 
1, "again there is great commotion in town 



because of a battle which is said to have 
taken place near Trent own (Trenton)." 

This was a false rumor, for which the 
pastor was not to blame. The battle of 
Trenton did not take place until the 26tb 
of December, when General Washington 
captured 1,000 Hessian prisoners, who af- 
terward played such an important part in 
Brother Bader's records. 

On the 2d of September, the day follow- 
ing that on which it was rumored there 
had been a battle at Trenton, he tells us 
"the dreadful news came that a battle 
should have occurred near New York, and 
thai our people were present," and then, 
as if hoping against hope, and with an op- 
timism nut common to Brother Bader, he 
concludes the entry, "While, however, so 
many untruths have been spread for a long 
time, we remain quiet." The next day, 
several sisters came with letters, which 
they had received from their husbands, 
and "thej report being quite well and 
hope to return soon; there was, however, 
continual tiring and fighting on Long Is- 
land, about three miles from New York." 
The battle of Long Island which took place 
a week previous. 

from September 6th to the 18th, we find 
many of the men home again, by reason 
of discharge and sickness, and the people 
busy sending horses and wagons to meet 
the sick and bring them home. But scarce- 
ly were they home, before we have another 
alarm, "that all who had been in the army 
should go again." 

On Sunday, December' 1st, the villagers 
had their first sight of prisoners of war. 
Whence they came, we are not told, the 
record simply saying, "One thousand pris- 
oners, under a strong escort of troops, 
marched by the ( .'emein-haus, on to bead- 
ing, at 10 o'clock. They are to be taken 
to Philadelphia. There were also many 
Tones present with their wives and chil- 
dren, and many wagons." Thus (loses the 
record for 1776. 

The year 1777 opened auspiciously for the 
Americans. Brother Bader, who was ac 
customed to sin<j in a minor key, for the 

ie seems to have struck a higher note. 

On January 1, 1777. he jubilantly records 
a victory. Bui we will let him tell it in 
his own way. "Every one in town is re- 
joicing over a victory which the Provin 
cials are said to have gained." How his- 
tory repeated itself almost a century later, 
is well known to those who lived through 
the exciting and perilous days from 1861 to 
1865. The victory which Brotlw Bader 



LEBANON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



records, is evidently Washington's at Tren- 
ton, <ni December 26. 1776. 

On the 9th of February, we have the 
simple announcement, "DeHaas returns." 

That the Germans and the Irish could 
not fraternize as well a century ago as 
they do now, is evidenced by an entry of 
March the 19th, for we find this, to us, 
amusing record: "In the town (Lebanon) 
itself there were miserable and dangerous 
quarrels between the town people and the 
soldiers, because of the Irish patron, Pat- 
rick, whose memory the latter were cele- 
brating." There must have been a regu- 
lar Donnybrook Fair time of it. 

During the months of April, May mid 
June, we have records of the registry of 
the men for service, the requirement of all 
to take the oath of allegiance, and the 
(halting of men for service. On Sunday, 
■ lime 29, Brother Bader (as he always calls 
himself in the diary) "preached on the sub- 
ject, and said that no true brother could 
lake the oath." The people, we are told, 
were opposed to it, and two persons lost 
their lives in Donegal because they refuse. 1 
to be sworn. We are further told that 
19 "who had taken the oath attempted to 
plunder the family of an unsworn person 
m Swatara. While doing so, they were 
set upon by sixty who had not taken the 
oath, and beaten almost to death. The 
property was saved, and one person who, 
the previous week had shot a man, was in 
turn shot with his own rifle." 

Rumors of Indian raids were again re- 
ported, together with another that "Howe 
was in Maryland, not far from Yorktovvn 
i York) on the Susquehanna;" and that 
I he prisoners from Lancaster and Reading 
were to be brought to Lebanon, houses al- 
ready having been ordered and prepared 
for them. 

( )n August 27th, three hundred and forty 
Hessian prisoners arrived in Lebanon, in 
chai'ge of Colonel Curtis Grubb. He sent 
two soldiers to the pastor to inform him 
that the Gemein-haus was to be occupied 
by them. "To this, Brother Bader object- 
ed, saying it was not a public house, and 
he would allow no one in his dwelling." 
In the evening he had the assurance of 
Adam Orth, one of his members, and John 
Thome, who figured quite prominently in 
Colonial times as a justice of the peace, 
surveyor and scrivener, that he would re- 
main in undisturbed possession of the 
building. Upon what authority they gave 
him this assurance we cannot learn, for 
Brother Bader could get no satisfactory 
reply from Colonel Grubb, to whom he had 



written. After discussing the matter with 
the brethren, he dispatched a committee 
to see the commander, with instructions 
"to put forth their utmost efforts to pre- 
vent the occupancy of the building," and 
"to declare that if it happened, it would 
be against all the laws, especially against 
the laws of our land, against our wishes 
and by force. They went, fought all day, 
and in order to negled nothing, made two 
propositions: That they would either yield 
up the two houses (dwellings?) in place of 
it, or rent a large house in town, in which 
some could be put, and pay for it, but it 
was all of no avail, and they came back at 
night." 

Brother Bader now concluded to retire 
to Lititz, and lock up the house; but at a 
later conference, and upon "more careful 
reflection, he gave up the plan of moving 
away entirely, and resolved to send an 
express to Lit itz." 

After the several propositions of the pas- 
tor and his members, to procure quarters 
elsewhere, it does seem, looking back calm- 
ly and judicially, an abuse of authority for 
Colonel Grubb to take the church as quar- 
ters for the prisoners, lie was, perhaps, 
not altogether free from prejudice, and 
may have been influenced by not the best 
of motives. Let us see what Brother Ba- 
der says: "On Friday, August 29, 400 pris- 
oners arrived. Brother Bader had the op- 
portunity of emphatically presenting his 
declaration to Colonel Grubb. But he has 
been prejudiced by the head of the Re- 
formed Church and carried out his inten- 
tion. Brother Bader has entire possession 
of the four lower rooms, but 200 were put 
into the church (saal) and in the side 
rooms (cabinetter); the others had to go to 
town, and then," concludes the narrative 
with evident satisfaction to the pastor, 
"the Reformed had to give up their 
church." 

For the next year, almost, the good dom- 
inie's soul was vexed by the Hessians quar- 
tered in the church. They took the church 
violins and began playing and dancing in 
the church and out of it, destroyed prop- 
er ty, burnt the fences, and acted, as the 
record says, "shamefully, as they cer- 
tainly would not dared to have done in 
1 1 esse at the parsonage." 

During the remainder of the year, there 
is one continuous wail upon the part of 
the pastor because of the occupancy of the 
building. Colonel Marsteller, who suc- 
ceeded Colonel Grubb in command, made 
promises of relief, but nothing was done. 
Messengers were sent to the Council of 



/. /•;/;. INi >N ( '( >> TV / ) ' HISTi >A'/( \ II. SO( IE IV. 



Safety, in Lancaster, and Colonel Green 
await interposed his good offices, l>ut still 
the Hessians remained quartered in the 
house. 

On Wednesday, October •_'!), we are told, 
"aboul W o'clock, David Krause, the bar- 
master, came and gave them (the 
Hessians) notice to be ready to leave in 
half an hour, and to go to the Lutheran 
church in town. Who was more joyful 
than Brother and Sister Bader, but who 
was more dismayed than the Hessians, 
and particularlj the officers, who had set- 
tled to rest, were comfortable, and cer- 
tainly expected t<> pass the winter here." 
Thej attributed their removal to Brother 
Bader, but were assured to the contrary. 
"Captain Oldenbrug came with the militia 
and took them away. Several wept much. 
In short, il was not all right with them. 
We now see the shocking destruction that 
they produced within and without the 
house, so that it looks exactly like a stable, 
and smells horribly, insomuch that it. is a 
grief." No sooner were the Hessians gone, 
than t he\ were confronted with a new 
trouble, for we find this entry in the diarj 
under date of Thursday. October 30, "A 
visit from Dav. Buehler and Sturgis. They 
brought us a piece of news which would 

embitter our joy; that it was generally re- 
ported that the house was to be occupied 
by the sick and wounded. <> Ood, look 
upon it from heaven and have mercy upon 
us," and he continues. "Tomorrow it is 
nine weeks that neither the congregation 
nor their children have had a service by 
themselves, so hum were the Hessians here, 
and if the wounded come, the congregation 
would he scattered and every one go to his 
own, since in such a slate Brother and Sis 
ter Bader could not stay on account of the 
[ice and other nncleannesses, as everj one 
knows." A conference of the brethren was 
called and action was taken to prevent the 

tin t her occupancj of t he house. But the 

wounded were not t ;cupy it. for on 

Monday, November 17, •"early, at o'clock, 
two Hessian women, with their baggage 

on their backs, came with the news that 
the Hessians were to return again to our 
house. We were greatlj terrified, and 
Brother Bader was unwilling to let them 

in; but a- it was verj cold, he allowed 

them to warm themselves. Within an 
hour after, the house was again taken pos- 
session of." The reason for their removal 

from the Lutheran church is douhtloss due 

to t he tact , w hich we gather from a note 

m the diary, that the "Kill hcran church in 
town is to lie used as a powder magazine." 



Again messengers were sent to Lancas 

ter, hut word came that the Hessians were 
to remain through the winter, and Brother 
Bader then learned that Ad. Orth ("whom 
Brother Bader did not entirely trust") "is 
the chief cause of all our anil the congrega- 
tion's troubles." We are told that "a Hes- 
sian gunsmith has taught Brother and Sis- 
ter Bader's Justine to knit in a peculiar 
and unfamiliar way. The Hessians are 
drinking today (December li and make a 
fearful noise. Several, however, are deep- 
ly impressed; among them one especially 
who is already called a Herrnhuter by his 
comrades." 

The anxiety, the conduct of the Hes- 
sians, the waiting for reports from Lancas- 
ter, ami the worry, made Brother Bader 
sick. Colonel Grubb, upon whom he look- 
ed as an enemy, decided to remove the 
lb--. ins and use the house for casting bul- 
lets, "or, as they say, to put in the powder 
that is stored in the Lutheran church, be- 
cause the people in town don't want it." 

From the diary, we infer that many of 
the Hessians were put to work among the 
people, for on December 8 we are told 
"early this morning twenty men were sent 
out to call here all the Hessians who were 
at work, and then to hold themselves in 
readiness to march away. The house 
should be used for something else. The 
Hessians were quite distracted," at which 
we do not wonder, since they were having 
quite a good time at I [ebron. 

Colonel Marsteller, it seems, was playing 
fast and loose with Lint her Bader. He 
had promised his influence for the re- 
moval of the prisoners, promised to visit 
Brother Bader and discuss the question, 
and yet excused himself; so that on De- 
cember K) we find this entry: "Marsteller 
did not come. Hut from his reply, Brother 
Bader could conclude that he had done, or 
would do nothing in the matter, and was 
treating us in a polite but hypocritical 
manner." 

On Tuesday. December l(i. Brother Bader 
had a visit from two distinguished officers 
of the army, General DeHaas and Dr. Ken- 
nedy, "Hospital Doctor of the Army," who 
informed him that the Hessians would be 
removed, but the buildings would be used 
as a hospital for the sick and wounded, 
and that the pastor and his wife should 
leave. He protested against it, but his 
protestation was unavailing. They exam- 
ined the house and found it badly dam- 
aged. "The doctor," continues the narra- 
tive, "read the names of the plaees where 
the sick from Easton, Bethlehem, etc., 



LEBANON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



13 



were to be placed. As he did not read 
Hebron, Brother Bader immediately said 
to him that our little town did not occur 
on the list. He maintained that it did, but 
could not rind it. Brother Bader spoke 
particularly and forcibly with DeHaas, 
who promised to do what he could. It 
seemed to vex the doctor that Brother 
Bader acted in such a manner. Brother 
Bader had Koehler, who heard every thing, 
present the matter to the brethren in town 
for consideration and to offer suggestions. 
That was a new fright." 

Brother Bader seems to have lost confi- 
dence in the officers of the army, and to 
believe every idle rumor concerning them. 
On Friday, December 19, three days after 
the visit of General DeHaas and Dr. Ken- 
nedy, he says: "As we heard today, De- 
Haas is behind the whole matter, and 
wants to force us to leave the house. . . . 
Phil. Stoehr visited us and also stated that 
the matter was decided. Brother Bader 
commissioned him to gather together all the 
brethren in town and take measures to- 
morrow to send two of their number to 
Lancaster, and present a complaint to the 
Assembly, and beg for redress, since it now 
comes from DeHaas; otherwise it woidd 
have been done before this for the sake of 
the Gemein-haus, the woods, garden, fence, 
cemetery, and for the sake of the congrega- 
tion. He wants to occupy the other houses 
also. Sister Bader afterward went to Sis- 
ter Kucher, who embraced her warmly, 
with tears, and related that she had given 
DeHaas a terrible lecture." Messengers 
went to DeHaas from the congregation, 
and Baltho Orth, Jr., related "how he and 
Adam had been to see DeHaas and were 
received with all friendliness, he telling 
them that the occupancy of the house had 
not yet been decided upon, and expressing 
astonishment that the pastor had spoken 
so forcibly to him." Probably he was still 
more astonished at Sister Kucher's "ter- 
rible lecture." Whether it was the oppo- 
sition of Brother Bader and the brethren, 
the visit of the committee to Lancaster, 
the "terrible lecture" by Sister Kucher, or 
the goodness of heart of General DeHaas, 
we know not, but, for the present at least, 
the house was not to be used, as we learn 
from an entry on December 27, which says, 
"Captain Oldenbrug visited Brother Bader 
and joyfully informed him that he had 
found" places for all the sick (upwards of 
420) in Schaefferstown, and so our house 
should be free. But oh! if only the Hes- 
sians were gone again." It would be in- 



teresting to know where they were quar- 
tered in Schaefferstown. 

Colonel Grubb comes in for considerable 
pious denunciation from the pastor. He 
tells us that "Grubb is, as we hear, like a 
madman against the poor brethren and us. 
He acts as absolute sovereign." On Sun- 
day, December 28, he makes this entry, 
taking a pious Hiug at Colonel Grubb, "All 
the Hessians and many others in town are 
extremely angry with Grubb because he 
has seized and imprisoned an otherwise 
well-liked sergeant out of our house, who 
the day before yesterday went to church 
in town, and was afterward seen by him. 
He is still in prison." 

"We earned all our small wood," he 
tells us, "old weather-boards, padings from 
the cemetery and garden, and hop-poles, up 
to the store-room, because the Hessians 
steal and burn all that they can get, since 
they have no wood." 

He closes the year's diary with the fol- 
lowing: 

Memorabilia, 1777. "The 29th day of Au- 
gust was the day on which the Miserere 
burst forth loudly, and up to the 29th day 
of October was often repeated, with many 
tears, for on the first day there came here 
u]i wards of 270 Hessian prisoners and took 
possession of the Geinein-haus, whereby 
poor Hebron was disturbed in her course." 

The year 1778 opened with the same old 
tie ml ties for Brother Bader, the Hessians, 
who were very much in evidence in the 
Gemein-haus. The sergeant, whom we are 
told in a previous note, Golonel Grubb had 
arrested and imprisoned for attending wor- 
ship in town, was released and returned to 
his old quarters. Thereupon the guard 
gave expression to their joy by firing a 
volley and drinking deeply. It seems this 
was the only way in which they could ex- 
press their gratification. But it was a 
sorrowful day for the good dominie. As 
he says, "the remainder of the day was 
spent, as the present circumstances would 
permit, in sorrowful solitude." 

As a result of the imbibing, they had a 
big quarrel in the evening, or as Brother 
Bader expresses it, they "quarreled tear- 
fully up to 9 o'clock in the brethren's 
hall. Sister Bader went out and informed 
them that we intend to complain about 
their shameful behavior. They quieted 
down, but afterward they began to roar so 
frightfully in the church that we thought 
it filled with senseless raving beasts, and 
that the house woidd be overturned, since 
Sister Bader's room began to crack all 



14 



LEBANON COl'NTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



over. Several officers called the guard, 
who should put them under arrest. Finally 

the under officers plucked up courage and 
gave a couple of the ring-leaders a sound 
beating; then we had quiet." It seems the 
Hessian women were largely responsible 
for the fight and uproar. According to the 
diary, there were 17 of them, and 14 of the 
number sold liquor to the prisoners, "and 
consequently the house had 14 saloons, 
and out of them 1.". in the church. Is this 
to continue? He (Brother Bader) offered 
a plan, and if that did not succeed, he 
would soon have it stopped through Cap- 
lam Oldenbrug." 

On Sunday, January 4, Brother Bader re- 
ceived word that Captain Oldenbrug in- 
tended removing the Hessians and putting 
120 cartridge makers in the building; but 
this was no more agreeable to the pastor, 
who did not want to give up his house, 
fearful that his congregation would be 
scattered. So on the following Monday, 
through Brother Koehler, he received word 
that, the Captain hail seized three houses 
in town, and would do his utmost to keep 
the house free. But no sooner had he re- 
ceived this cheering information, than he 
was compelled to record, as he does on 
Tuesday, January (i, that the "Hessians 
are returning in large numbers from their 
employers. He does not know where they 
are to he placed, for the house was then 
full." He says he will give up the garret, 
hut not one room more. When we con 
sider the size of the building, and remem- 
ber that besides the pastor and his family, 
and some of the sister- of t lie congregation, 
there were 150 prisoners in the building, 
we may well wonder where thej were to 
stay. They must ha I e been packed like 
sardines. On the return of those who had 
been out at work, they began their usual 
and Sifter Bader, who was sick 
with pneumonia, grew worse. Brothei 

Bader informed them that il thej did not 
-top the noise, "he would take hack the 
side room he had given them, as he had 
not given it for such purpose. Thereupon 
they quieted down and began to 9cold each 
ot her violently because of it ." 

'I'hc daj Eollowing t Mr ret urn oi I he I [es 
<ian>, on Wednesday, January 7, Colonel 
Grubb and Captain Oldenbrug came early 
and when the lle-sians saw them, they 
were alarmed, thinking that Pastor Bader 
had gone in the night and lodged com 
plainl . They w en- confined more closelj . 
ami drinking was forbidden. 

"Still Brother Bader related the occur- 
rence to ( aptain Uldenbrug and asked him 



to help maintain order in the house. He 
said he would come out plainly about the 
matter. There are now 150 men here, and 

they do not know how thej shall lie down. 

A corporal came and requested that seven 
of his men might sleep on the sister"s side, 
before the church door. It was tlatly re- 
fused him. as we wish to keep that side 
entirely free. The garret was also asked 
For, and in like manner refused. We have 
learned to be prudent. They are, with 
verj tew exceptions, very rude and un- 
grateful." 

(in Friday, January Hi, two gentlemen 
who had the oversight of the cartridge- 
makers, railed on Brother Bader. One of 
them was "Mi-. Wat kins," who informed 
him that the lle.-sians were to leave, and 
the house would be occupied by the work 
men: that 300 of them would be placed in 
tlu' town. Brother Bader "in a polite 
way" ren strated, and finally they in- 
formed him th,a i! thej could get another 
house, they would not occupy the church 
building. 

The Hessians "were almost beside them- 
at this news, for whUe not having 

the st pleasant time with Brother 

Bader, they still seemed to have become 
quite attached to the Hebron community, 
so that the thought of leaving was not 
pleasant for them. 

On Wednesday, January 21, 1778, they 
had a fearful time and must have made 
"Home howl" with their conduct. Such 
is the record. "Today it was as if the 
abyss had opened and all the Furies and 
Mephistophiles and Zitzliputzli ( we don't 

know what this means) had come among 
the Hessians. They made themselves out 
rageously drunk, and then the women be- 
gan to fight; alter them the men, who 
look sides with the women; finally the 
fight he. a me general." 

The guard was called, but alter t hey left, 

the tight was resumed ami continued into 
the uight, and began again the next inorn- 
ing among the Hessian women, ami con- 
tinued at intervals tor two days. No won- 
der I hat a peace lo\ ing and God Eeai Lng 

man like Brother Bader was almost driven 

lo distraction. To add to the terror, the 
chimnej of the house took tire, during 

the night, ami. as he says, "had not the 
ind Watcher oi [srael" cared for 

them, they might all have keen burned, 
"for the house was tilled with straw." 

They have still no word as to the re- 
moval of the Hessians, or the further occu- 
of the house for other purposes. 
Still, there are anxious conferences be- 



LEBANON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



15 



tween pastor and people, and after ser- 
vice, on Sunday, January 25, "they have a 
strong report that the entire house is to 
be taken." He further records "that the 
Hessians are quiet," and adds, "they have 
no beer or brandy," leaving us to assume 
that then, as now, these twin evils, were 
the cause of many of the disturbances cre- 
ated among the prisoners. 

The Hebron pastor makes no record from 
Sunday, January 25, to Sunday, February 
1, when he briefly tells us the prisoners 
"acted as though they were crazy," pre- 
sumably they had secured more beer and 
brandy. And then again he is silent for 
three days, during which time he was, as 
we learn, on a visit, for he tells us on 
Wednesday, February 4, that "Brother 
Bader returned from a visit at 3 o'clock 
and immediately received a visit from an 
Anspach hunter and sergeant. They re- 
lated to him that Howe had dedicated the 
7th chapter of Ezekiel to Washington, and 
the latter in turn the 4th chapter of 
Baruch to Howe. 

At last, word came for the removal of 
the Hessians, but it was some days, nay, 
weeks, before they finally left. They pro- 
tested; refused to leave the building, and 
began deserting. Notwithstanding that the 
guard was doubled, we are told, on March 
1, that "seven ran away last night and five 
the night before. Today the guard was 
made stronger. It was noon before they 
marched. Many bade us a cordial fare- 
well and wept much. Finally they de- 
parted, and then we saw the shocking des- 
olation. The church was like a pig-sty." 
They were taken to Middletown. 

After the departure of the Hessians, Ma- 
jor Watkins called to secure the house for 
his cartridge-makers, and to ascertain the 
damage to the buildings, which was fixed 
at £101, 6s, lOd, — much too little, we are 
told. 

Watkins persisted in taking the build- 
ing, and Brother Bader and the brethren 
objected. They wanted to know his au- 
thority, whether it was from Washington, 
Congress, or the Board of War. Instead of 
producing a letter from either, he pre- 
sented one from Atlee, of Lancaster, who 
said, "you may have the house occupied 
by the Hessians." This was not sufficiently 
satisfactory. After discussing the question 
for several days, Major Watkins, on Wed- 
nesday, April 29, came with several wagon- 
loads of powder. Admission was refused 
and the doors locked. He was obliged to 
use force to enter, and breaking open the 
door, unloaded the powder in the church 



and the brethren's hall. Thereupon a com- 
mittee is despatched to York to the Board 
of War. Christian Kucher and Adam Orth 
were sent, returning Tuesday, May 5th, 
between 11 and 12 o'clock at night. Kuch- 
er reported that "he had experienced much 
trouble with the Board of War to obtain 
redress of our grievances, but had persisted 
and persevered with them in such manner, 
that they could resist no longer, and finally 
gave an order for Colonel Flowers, in Lan- 
caster, that the latter should write to Wat- 
kins and require him to take the powder 
out of our house and to look for another 
place where also the other things could be 
stored. When he left (the Board of War) 
he said if Colonel Flowers made trouble for 
him, he would return." Colonel Flowers 
hesitated about giving such order, but 
when he learned that if he did not, the 
committee "would return again to the 
Board of War and have satisfaction, he at 
last wrote to Watkins how Christ. Kucher 
wanted it. and read the letter to him." 

When we remember, as we are informed 
in the diary, that the Moravian brethren 
had procured three houses, with stables, 
and offered them for the storage of the 
powder and the use of the cartridge- 
makers, agreeing to pay the rent of the 
same, their action in wanting their church 
vacated, and their persistent efforts to ac- 
complish the purpose, are not subject for 
criticism. And Major Watkins' continued 
occupancy of the building, in direct vio- 
lation of the action of the Board of War, 
should have subjected him to a severe rep- 
rimand, if nothing worse. It looks like a 
persecution of the brethren. No wonder 
Brother Bader and his brethren protested, 
and that, notwithstanding the storage of 
tons of powder in the budding, and the 
order of Watkins to the pastor to vacate, 
reminding him of the danger of remaining, 
Brother Bader bravely maintained posses- 
sion of his rooms, and the brethren regu- 
larly assembled for worship. 

But this brings us to the close of so 
much of the diary as is now in my posses- 
sion, and we conclude with two extracts: 

"Saturday, May 23, 1778. A Hessian 
(Corporal Stork), from Middletown, visited 
Brother Bader. They are very closely con- 
fined there. Yesterday and today the 
cartridge-makers brought bullets with a 
wheelbarrow and took back iron out of the 
house." 

"Monday, May 25. In the afternoon, a 
battalion of militia drilled in B. Orth's field 
opposite the Gemein-haus. Afterward, 
Major Watkins came again. He wanted to 



1 6 /. KB ANON COUNTY JUS T( >A'/< \ 1 1. SOCIE T ) . 

have the house, and said plainly that he to move everything out of the house, but 

intended to make a powder magazine oui he does not obej and writes another in 

of the whole of it, and place in electrified reply, because of the instigation and sup 

iron bars. Bui Brother Bader steadfast!} porl ol the town people. So we are in 

and repeatedly refused it. Be receives one extremely trying circumstances, and now 

order after another from Colonel Flowers in addition ironies the taking of the oath." 







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